Chapter 93: The Elder Brother Teaches You How to Be a Man

After a hearty meal, Wu Kai took Chen Yufeng and Ning Doudou straight to the filming site.

However, on the way, Ning Doudou received a call from her best friend. When she hung up, she sighed helplessly and gave Chen Yufeng an apologetic smile.

“Ah, I’m really sorry, but I’m afraid I can’t go with you. My best friend just broke up with her boyfriend—I need to go comfort her.”

“Ah? Uh… well, alright then.” Chen Yufeng felt a bit annoyed—he'd been looking forward to showing off in front of her.

“I’ll go ahead then. Do your best, remember to behave, and don’t get into trouble.”

After giving Chen Yufeng a few words of advice and greeting Wu Kai, Ning Doudou hurried off. After all, a best friend in need was more important.

“Uh… I’ll be good,” Chen Yufeng replied absentmindedly. But then it hit him—why am I trying to be good? I’m her cousin, not her kid brother. How am I supposed to have any fun if I don’t show off just a little?

Well, since he’d already come this far, there was no point turning back.

As soon as she left, Wu Kai gave Chen Yufeng a heavy slap on the back. His expression darkened as he pointed at Chen Yufeng’s nose and gave a stern warning.

“Listen up, don’t mess around here. Do exactly as you’re told, don’t ask questions you shouldn’t, and if you follow my lead, I’ll make sure you get at least a crew meal. If you don’t, I can guarantee you’ll never make it in this business, you understand?”

“Oh, I got it. Thanks, Brother Kai, for looking out for me.” Chen Yufeng gave him an honest nod.

“You don’t understand a damn thing,” Wu Kai said, giving Chen Yufeng’s head a sharp slap. “If you really understood, you’d be running off to buy me a couple packs of cigarettes right now. How do you expect to get ahead if you don’t know how to behave?”

“Uh… alright, I’ll go now.” Chen Yufeng actually went off to buy the cigarettes, deciding to let Wu Kai have his little moment of authority.

As Chen Yufeng headed off sensibly to buy the cigarettes, Wu Kai shouted after him, “Get the Imperial 95s, you hear me? Don’t you dare bring back any trash.”

“Okay, got it.”

“Hmph, what an idiot, thinking he can make it in this crew. If you don’t know how to act, you’re not going to get anywhere,” Wu Kai muttered sarcastically as he watched Chen Yufeng’s receding figure.

As the head of the extras, Wu Kai was king among them, and naturally had his own pride and temper. He’d only been polite just now because Ning Doudou was present.

Now that she was gone, he couldn’t be bothered to keep up the charade.

Soon enough, Chen Yufeng returned from the convenience store nearby with two packs of Imperial 95s, handing them over with a grin. “Brother Kai, these are for you.”

“Watch your mouth!” Wu Kai took the cigarettes, glaring at Chen Yufeng and barking, “You think I want your cigarettes? I’m teaching you how to get by in this world, understand?”

“Yes, yes, I understand. Thank you, Brother Kai, for showing me the ropes.” Chen Yufeng kept a humble demeanor.

“Good, that’s more like it. Now listen closely.” Wu Kai, every inch the boss, continued as they walked along.

“Every industry has its own rules. Now that you want to join a crew, you need to learn them. Hard work alone won’t get you anywhere; first, you have to know how to deal with people, and use your head. Got it?”

“Mm-hmm.” Chen Yufeng nodded obediently.

Seeing that he was finally acting sensibly, Wu Kai’s tone softened. He clapped Chen Yufeng on the shoulder and said, “You seem like a kid with potential. Stick with me, learn the ropes, and I promise you’ll do just as well as any of the extras.”

“Yes, yes, Brother Kai, you’re absolutely right.” Chen Yufeng nodded enthusiastically.

They chatted as they walked—though it was mostly Wu Kai talking and Chen Yufeng nodding along.

Soon, Wu Kai led Chen Yufeng to the filming location at the foot of a mountain, where the next scene was to be shot.

With less than an hour before filming started, the whole crew was bustling with activity. Directors from every department shouted instructions at the top of their lungs, overseeing preparations:

“Make-up, hurry up already, stop dawdling!”

“Is the track set up? Move, move, hurry! That scaffold—raise it higher!”

“Set design, pick up the pace! Get those spotlights in place, everything needs to be polished!”

“Check everything again, and again—if something goes wrong at the critical moment, we’ll lose time!”

“Are you actors brain-dead? Get over here and start rehearsing!”

“Get those expressions and movements right—don’t stand there like zombies, this isn’t a horror flick!”

With the directors pushing them along, everyone leaped into action. Young men dashed about, setting up equipment, laying tracks, hauling frames, arranging tables and chairs, dressing the set—almost as if they were working on an assembly line.

While the crew busily prepared the set and checked equipment, the actors were occupied with make-up and running lines.

The extras, by contrast, had little to do. Many lounged around in costume, playing on their phones as they waited.

There were all sorts among the extras. Some were there just to see celebrities or to experience acting for fun—most of these were locals from nearby.

But they were a minority. Most extras were chasing a dream—or at least fame, hoping to become a star. Yet very few ever got their big break; even after ten years, most never rose above the crowd. Their stories were tinged with bitterness.

Chen Yufeng’s own goal was simply to show off and rack up reward points, so all he cared about was how many people were present—the more people, the more points.

Scanning the area, he estimated that aside from the dozens of extras in costume, the crew itself numbered in the dozens as well, and with the onlookers, there were about six or seven hundred people in total.

Only six or seven hundred? Chen Yufeng couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed—it was a far cry from the two thousand or so yesterday.

Damn, just how big and impressive would I have to make my act to score over ten thousand points?

As he pondered how to make the most spectacular impression and max out his rewards, Wu Kai clapped him on the shoulder and pointed to the nearby extras.

“See those extras? They’ve got no guarantees—maybe they work today, maybe not tomorrow. Their daily wage is just a few dozen yuan. But stick with me and you’re guaranteed work—a couple hundred today, at least. Is that better or what?”

“Ah? Yes, yes, much better.” Snapping out of his thoughts, Chen Yufeng hurriedly smiled and nodded. “Thanks for looking out for me, Brother Kai.”

“Come on, let’s get you to make-up. We’re about to start filming.” With that, Wu Kai led him toward the make-up room.

On the way, they ran into a long-haired man in plain clothes, his face utterly unremarkable, average height—about five foot nine—and perhaps just over thirty. He seemed restless and uneasy, his eyes darting everywhere, as if searching for something.

When Wu Kai saw him, he slapped the man on the shoulder and barked impatiently, “Cheng Jian, what are you running around for? Why haven’t you changed into costume or put on make-up yet? Don’t want your crew meal, is that it?”

The man just curled his lip in a silent snort, shot Wu Kai a cold glance, and walked away.

Chen Yufeng took note of him. He wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but it seemed like there was a flash of cold, murderous intent in that man’s eyes…